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Joanna Bald Lookout Tower - Nantahala National Forest, NC

1,236 views · Published 13 June 2017 · 3:57 · Indexed 11 October 2026

Channel: Zachary Robbins · 2017 · Travel & Events

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My second lookout tower of the day, and third of Memorial Day weekend. The Joanna Bald lookout tower is easily the least worthwhile trip of any publicly accessible tower in the state. (Rendezvous Mt, Cowee Bald, and Camp Creek Bald are 2nd, 3rd, and 4th for me so far.) This tower can be reached by a long, lonely drive on FR 423 to Tatham Gap, then some more driving on FR 423B to the gate. It is a short 0.5-mile walk to the top of the mountain, which is forested and covered in communications towers. The mountain is within the Snowbird Mountains Wilderness Study Area of Nantahala National Forest, and is extremely isolated. 

The name Joanna Bald is not the official name, simply an English nickname that is still used for the tower. The USGS benchmark name is Teyahalee Bald. Either way, this peak is the tallest in the Snowbird Mountains at 4,716 feet. The 31-foot tower was built in 1952, and the top cab was locked. There is only one good view northeast of Cheoah Bald through a powerline cut. This is not worth your time unless you are doing the lookout tower challenge. The drive down FR 423 to Andrews was equally as isolated. I stopped at a landslide with a view of Teyahalee Bald, then continued on to my third lookout tower of the day.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/kemgmUA3n2zGD7o79

Hike report
https://www.hikingupward.com/NNF/JoannaBaldLookoutTower/

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